Forget the car... walk or get on a bike, drivers told

AA’s advice as fuel prices hit record high

DRIVERS HAVE been urged to cut out shorter journeys by car as fuel prices continue to spiral.

The AA said motorists should walk or cycle to save money.

The average price of a litre of petrol at UK forecourts reached a new record of 183.2p on Thursday, according to data firm Experian – an increase of 7.3p in just seven days.

The average cost of filling a typical 55-litre family car exceeded £100 for the first time on Wednesday.

The average price of a litre of diesel on Thursday was also a record, at 188.8p.

AA president Edmund King said: “This is the worst week of pump pain so far for drivers.

“We would urge drivers at the moment to cut out shorter car journeys if they are able to do so and walk or cycle to save money.

“Almost one fifth of AA members are already doing this.

“By changing your driving style you can also save up to 15 per cent on fuel costs.

“These crippling fuel costs are hitting home so drivers need to take all the steps they can to stay mobile.”

The AA claimed high streets were losing £23m a day in potential consumer spending as that is the estimated extra amount drivers are shelling out on petrol, compared with this time last year.

RAC fuel spokesman Simon

Williams said it was “becoming clearer by the day that the Government must take further action to reduce the enormous financial burden on drivers”.

He accused the Government of being “fixated on ensuring retailers are passing on March’s 5p duty cut fully”, claiming this was “ignoring the fact that wholesale costs of fuel have absolutely rocketed since then”.

Mr Williams added: “A temporary cut in VAT on fuel, or a deeper duty cut, are surely what is needed now.”

Asked about the issue on Thursday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “We made a cut already... the biggest cut ever in fuel duty.

“What I want to see is those cuts in taxation not just swallowed up in one gulp, without touching the gullet of the fuel companies, I want to see those cuts having an impact on the pumps.

“And we are watching very closely to see what happens.”

The RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams described yesterday as “another day and another round of fuel price records”.

He went on: “Unbelievably, the average cost of a litre of petrol has gone up by more than 7p in just a week to 183.16p, and diesel by 4.5p to 188.82p.

“Other price records have also unfortunately been set this morning, with the average cost of a litre of diesel at a motorway services passing the £2 mark for the first time ever (200.99p).

“Petrol at the motorway is also at another record of 197.18p.

“It’s becoming clearer by the day that the Government must take further action to reduce the enormous financial burden on drivers.”

By changing your driving style you can save up to 15 per cent. AA president Edmund King speaking yesterday.